Shane Stapleton running for Libertarian Party in Bonavista-Burin-Trinity

SaltWire Network

Published: Dec 06, 2017 at 4:08 p.m.

Updated: Dec 06, 2017 at 4:39 p.m.

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Shane Stapleton of Marystown is running for the Libertarian party of Canada in the upcoming federal byelection. - Submitted

MARYSTOWN, NL— Shane Stapleton of Marystown will run in the upcoming federal byelection under the Libertarian Party of Canada banner.

“I wanted to give a Libertarian voice to the voters in this riding,” he said in an e-mail to The Southern Gazette. “An alternative to the Liberal or Conservative parties.”

Stapleton said shortly after the byelection was announced, the party contacted him to see if he would be interested in running.

“After discussing it with my family, I said yes and got everything into motion. In short order we had the required signatures to be the first party on ballot.”

Stapleton said he has been a member of the party for a little over a year.

According to the party’s website, the Libertarians’ mission “is to reduce the responsibilities and expense of government … so that we may each manage our lives to mutually fulfill our needs by the free and voluntary exchange of our efforts and property for the value that best realizes our happiness.”

“I became involved in the Libertarian party because I am passionate about freedom,” said Stapleton. “I got angry, (and) after witnessing big government failures both at home and away, I became convinced that less government was the solution.

Stapleton said if elected, he will be a strong voice for the province and represent the needs of the people.

“I'd like to make this area more favorable to entrepreneurs,” he said. “Government doesn’t create prosperity or sustainable jobs. I want to facilitate an environment of prosperity by getting Ottawa out of the way and talking to the community. Ask them what government policies prevent them from prospering and expanding. These proprietors know what to do and how to make money, Ottawa doesn't.”